“Arian Foster, Houston Texans, RB: It’s all about churning out yards for running backs, and Foster is as good a one-cut-and-go runner as there is. An opening in the line barely needs to be open for him to take it 40 yards. But it’s his vision that makes Foster the best around. It’s his vision that saw him gain 1,424 yards in his third-straight season over 1,200 and in double digit touchdowns. The offense isn’t perfect in Houston. There was no big-play threat in 2012, and the offensive line was a notch below its standard. And there was Foster, carrying the load (351 times) and keying everything. Only the truly elite players perform regardless of the circumstances.”

And Watt:

“J.J. Watt, Houston Texans, DE: To attempt to quantify his effectiveness by offering a sack number is unfair. Yes, he led the NFL last season with 20.5 sacks, and yes, he’d win the Deacon Jones Award if it had been offered in 2012. But Watt is so much more than that. He’s the NFL’s most resourceful player, and that’s made him its biggest defensive playmaker. Most D-linemen hate to get stuffed at the line. Watt uses it as an excuse to bat down passes (16 of them last year). He never thinks he’s beat, which is why so many of his sacks come on second and third tries. When Watt is at his best, either lining up on the edge or inside, he simply ruins game plans. There is no better compliment for a defensive player.”